Hungary, one of five countries confirmed as official candidates to stage the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2018, has withdrawn from the bidding process. The Hungarian capital Budapest had been named as one of the five 2018 bid cities earlier this month, but in a letter to FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos this week, the President of the Hungarian National Federation Vilmos Lázár confirmed that the Hungarian bid has now been withdrawn. In the letter Mr Lázár...

Calgary, AB - There was a championship feel in the air for the Saturday of the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘National’. The $60,000, 1.45 meter TransCanada Parcours de Chasse got underway with an international entry of 22 horse/rider combinations. With only one round to come out on top, Mario Deslauriers (USA) was the fastest to conquer the 600 meter Guilherme Jorge (BRA) course, which included 17 jumping efforts, including the south bank. The American veteran was close to being usurped by...

Craig Stanley rode the 5-year-old U.S.-bred "Caliente DG" to victory in the opening round of the Markel/USEF Western Dressage Selection Trial on the first day of competition at the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J. (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - A small but talented group of young horses contested the opening round of the Markel/USEF Western Dressage Selection Trial, part of the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA. Judges Lilo Fore (4* USA), Lois Yukins (4*...

The Region 12 show is always a great show and the foundation of the annual show season for Arabian and Half-Arabian horses in the southeast. Most years it ranks well into the top three regional Arabian horse shows in the United States. Frequently it is the largest and the best and this year’s show looks to be reaching toward the top spot once again. One of the first regional shows held each year, Region 12’s dates in 2012, May 7th through the 12th insure that there are few other...

Scott Brash and Sanctos van het Gravenhof (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Great Britain's Scott Brash guided Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof to victory in Saturday night's $200,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by The Bainbridge Companies at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). In a suspenseful jump-off, Brash beat out Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo, and Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, who finished second and third. Sponsored by the Bainbridge Companies,...

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin and Germany's Jörg Oppermann and Lux As If each jumped to victory in Wednesday's double $5,000 Welcome Stake classes during week eight's CSIO 4* competition, sponsored by G&C Farm, at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Due to a large number of entries, the Welcome Stake was held as two classes, with half of the entries showing in the afternoon,...

Jennifer Alfano & Jersey Boy- USHJA International Hunter Derby (©Flashpoint Photography) Green Cove Springs, FL - The Jacksonville Winter Series wrapped up its three week run on January 29th with the naming of Circuit Champions and a lot of fond memories for those attending. Alexis Newman of the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association summed up the series, “We enjoyed a fantastic three weeks of shows that were marked with great exhibitor parties, superb competition, wonderful...

Wellington, FL - Following Ashley Holzer's winning ride with Pop Art in the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*, a qualifier for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, competition organizer Wellington Classic Dressage and the WDM management found themselves faced with a sports issue that has necessitated a decision to amend the schedule of the show. American Heather Blitz on Paragon, second in the CDI3* Grand Prix behind Holzer and Pop...

The FEI has today given final sign-off on the footing that will be used for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events at Greenwich Park. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) conducted footing tests at a site near Preston in the north of England on 20 and 21 December 2011. The mix for the footing is now composed of non-waxed sand, felt and fibre. Testing of the new footing concluded on 21 December when international riders Geoff Billington...

Wellington, FL - At the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL, dressage is poised to take center stage this January. Among the many high-level competitions that will occur at the venue this winter will be a Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* qualifier for the 2012 Paralympics. This exciting three-test qualifying competition will serve as an inspiring opener for both the Gold Coast Dressage CDIW and the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*, both of which now offer the chance to see...